Waste Management

sustainable construction and waste reduction

defining concepts like waste minimisation and sustainable construction

sustainable construction: the creation and responsible management of a healthy built environment based on resource efficient and ecological principles

Waste minimisation: a process which avoids, eliminates or reduces waste at its source or permits reuse/recycling of the waste for benign purposes

Construction waste management in HK

identifying different kinds of waste

construction waste

non-insert waste

introducing the waste management methods adopted in HK now

mainly use public landfill area

lack reduction measures

Government achievement

pointing out the strategies that the government use and their effectiveness

waste management plans

polluter pays principle

trip ticket system

The construction industry in HK

focusing on the problems brought by the industry that produces the greatest amount of waste---construction industry

being described as"labour intensive, dangerous and polluting"

CIRC report provides 109 recommendation for it

it creates environmental nuisances such as noise, dust, muddy run-offs, and a great amount of waste

Waste reduction and prefabrication

explaining the idea of prefabrication and ways to achieve waste reduction

Prefabrication: a manufacturing process, generally taking place at a specialised facility where various materials are joined to form a component of the final installation

reduce timberwork: a major contributor to construction waste

showing and explaining the methods used in data collection

questionnaire survey

interviews with professionals

investigation over recent

a wider application of prefabrication techniques in building construction in HK is beneficial

2 reasons

Prefabrication is a possible solution to major causes of waste arising during both the design and construction stages

Waste reduction could be one of the main benefits when using precasting methods compared with conventonal construction

but, on the other hand, further ivestigations should be carried out to examine its limitation

1 reason

Wastage reduction levels are generally higher in projects from the public sector

Construction waste generation on building sites and waste reduction methods

analysing the results of the survey: waste generation in constructional industry are probably related to the
1)construction method selection,
2)the availability of on-site sorting and
3)recycling facilities for construction waste, and
4)the level of education and training of the workers

Waste reduction level in prefabricated buildings

discussing the factors affecting the effectiveness of waste reduction level, including
1)prefabrication is a relatively new construction method to private sector in HK construction industry
2)waste generation quantities significantly varied from project to project

suggesting that the use of prefabrication and system framework were not the only means of reducing construction waste

adoption of waste management plan

implementation of trip ticket system

Comparision between conventional and precast construction

The most important benefits when using precasting compared with traditional construction are:
1)waste reduction
2)improved quality control

The advantages of traditional construction over precasting one are as follows:
1)maximize returns,
2)reduce the overall project cost, and
3)reduction of waste

Impediments to prefabrication

5 significant barriers

1)need for specification change

2)conflict with traditional design process

3)lack of incentives

4)lack of on-site cast yard area

5)conflict with construction practice